2027 Programs Open Call
In collaboration with MANGO, we’re sharing all of our 2027 programs and inviting artists to apply through a single, streamlined form. Our Ocean Virtual Art Residency remains a core program, and we’re excited to add new virtual residency options. This updated structure is designed to make the process easier for you, allowing you to focus on one application while still having the freedom to apply to multiple programs if you wish.
New to residencies? Read our guide to virtual art residencies first.
Jump to:
EXHIBITIONS
The Under the Sea IV Virtual Exhibition
The Under the Sea annual juried virtual art exhibition showcases ocean-focused visual art that celebrates marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and our deep connection to the sea. Aligned with Challenge 10 of the UN Ocean Decade ("Restore society’s relationship with the ocean"), the exhibition invites artists worldwide to present works that inspire behavioral shifts and foster public awareness around marine conservation. Entries are evaluated across three distinct categories, with winners receiving a small cash prize alongside international exposure.
Annual juried virtual art exhibition aligned with UN Ocean Decade Challenge 10
Juried by a panel of 6 expert judges (3 artists and 3 marine scientists)
Three submission categories with small cash prizes for category winners
Curated virtual gallery with public opening and online catalog
Deadline to apply: April 25th, 2027
Listening to the Fish Sing by Alina Hubarenko
We are delighted to announce that the Under the Sea Virtual Art Exhibition has been endorsed as an activity by UNESCO’s UN Ocean Decade. Being an endorsed activity brings increased visibility, including the Ocean Decade Network, and the chance to contribute to a global, collaborative effort aimed at achieving a healthy and sustainable ocean.
The Welcoming of the Whales Exhibition
The Welcoming of the Whales Exhibition takes place in-person at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California, during the Festival of the Whales. Presented as a hybrid event, it combines this high-visibility, physical showcase with an accessible virtual exhibition component. While hosted alongside the celebration of the annual gray whale migration, the exhibition warmly invites artwork centered on all aspects of the ocean, from marine ecosystems and deep-sea research to broader conservation themes, rather than strictly whale motifs. This brief weekend event offers high public visibility, drawing an estimated 400+ visitors and connecting artists, marine scientists, and the community.
Accepts Video, 2D and 3D artwork exploring all ocean-related themes, marine life, and coastal conservation (not limited to whale artwork)
High-visibility weekend event with approximately 400+ guests and community participants
Open call for visual artists across diverse physical and digital mediums
Deadline to apply:
International: January 31st, 2027
US: February 7th, 2027
The Ocean Within II
The Ocean Within II is a dedicated exhibition celebrating the inner landscapes of marine inspiration, bringing together contemporary works that reflect on our personal and collective ties to the sea. The exhibition explores how the ocean shapes our emotional and creative inner worlds, providing a platform for artists to delve into fluid mediums, deep-sea research, and introspective narratives. We invite artwork that is deeply connected to scientific research, cultural insight, ancestral knowledge, and ocean science, moving beyond simple decorative imagery to examine a shared fascination with what the ocean holds beyond the reach of human sight. Following a successful 2026 turnout of over 460 guests, this intentional show serves as a proof of concept for what happens when ocean art, science, and advocacy share the same wall.
Open to local and international artists working in 2D, 3D, and video art
Focuses on research-backed, insightful, and conceptual ocean art rooted in marine science, cultural narratives, and ancestral knowledge
High-impact exhibition building on a 2026 turnout of 460+ guests
Dedicated showcase bringing art, marine science, and advocacy together on the same wall
Deadline to Apply:
International: May 16th, 2027
US: July 4th, 2027
We are delighted to announce that The Ocean Within has been endorsed as an activity by UNESCO’s UN Ocean Decade. Being an endorsed activity brings increased visibility, including the Ocean Decade Network, and the chance to contribute to a global, collaborative effort aimed at achieving a healthy and sustainable ocean.
RESIDENCIES
Ocean Virtual Art Residency
In this program, artists develop a project that aligns with the residency’s theme and results in a clear, tangible outcome. Their work explores the many dimensions of the OCEAN, whether through technical approaches, conceptual inquiry, personal reflection, or experiential research. Inspired by the UN Ocean Decade, each project should thoughtfully engage with ocean conservation, education, and the broader efforts to protect and sustain our marine environments and the ocean’s influence on climate.
5 weeks
1 invited scientist speaker
Virtual Open Studio & Exhibition
Deadlines:
Plastic Reef by Sabine Joseph, artist from OVAR III
Contemplation by Apitha Thanin artist from OVAR II
From the Still waters run deep Series by LABORARE, artists from OVAR IV
We are delighted to announce that the Ocean Virtual Art Residency has been endorsed as an activity by UNESCO’s UN Ocean Decade. Being an endorsed activity brings increased visibility, including the Ocean Decade Network, and the chance to contribute to a global, collaborative effort aimed at achieving a healthy and sustainable ocean.
Our Land Virtual Art Residency
5 weeks
2 invited scientist speaker
Virtual Open Studio & Exhibition
Deadlines:
The Our Land Virtual Art Residency is dedicated to artists whose work reflects our relationship with the living world and our responsibility to protect it. Inspired by UNESCO’s SDGs 15, the program invites creative explorations of terrestrial ecosystems, whether through caring for forests, combating desertification, restoring degraded land, or responding to urgent biodiversity loss. Artists are encouraged to engage with these themes from cultural, scientific, ancestral or community-rooted perspectives, contributing to a global conversation about how we can safeguard and regenerate the landscapes that sustain life.
Materials by Maria Ruiz, Our Land VII
Mi Soledad details by Fran Sosa, Our Land VII
Make it Big, Make it Blue, Make a Billion, Make it about Biodiversity by Ariel Aurora, Our Land VIII
Sustainability Virtual Art Residency
The Sustainability Virtual Art Residency supports artists who imagine a more sustainable and equitable future. The program welcomes creators exploring the interconnected well-being of our lands, waters, oceans, and communities, along with the environmental, social, cultural, and economic systems that shape daily life. In line with UNESCO’sSustainable Development mission to foster international cooperation and dialogue, the residency recognizes the essential role of culture in advancing sustainable development in a holistic way. It also values artistic perspectives that show how education can empower people with the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviors needed to care for the environment, economy, and society. Through this global virtual space, artists can exchange ideas, develop new work, and contribute to more resilient and inclusive communities.
Inspired by UNESCO’s SDG 13, the program centers on the five layers of the atmosphere and examines how human activities have warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, driving rapid shifts across the climate system and increasing the number of weather, climate, and water-related disasters. Artists are encouraged to explore these transformations through scientific, emotional, or experiential perspectives, creating work that responds to the fragility of our atmospheric world and the urgent need for climate action.
6 weeks
2 invited speakers
Virtual Open Studio & Exhibition
Deadline:
Why choose a Virtual Art Residency?
Virtual art residencies offer a flexible and accessible approach to artistic practice. Our virtual residencies are designed to support artists, build real connections, and create meaningful work, while reducing many of the logistical barriers of traditional residencies.
Accessible from anywhere
No travel, visas, or relocation required. Artists can participate from their own space, wherever they are in the world.Guided and community-based
Artists take part in live sessions, group conversations, mentorship and shared learning throughout the residency.Flexible but connected
The virtual format allows artists to balance work, family, or studies while still being part of an active, engaged group.Professional experience
Each residency ends with a curated virtual exhibition that is open to the public and shared internationally.Values-driven work
Programs are rooted in themes such as ocean conservation, sustainability, land, and climate, and are connected to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Ocean Decade.Program sustainability
Fees help cover facilitation, guest contributors, exhibition hosting, and administrative costs, allowing us to run the program responsibly.
F.A.Q
Who can apply to this program?
All artists (all disciplines) of all nationalities who wish to use this program as their space for creation, reflection, and/or research. Please note that the language used in the meetings will be Spanish and/or English as appropriate (i.e., the artist must specify which language/s they speak).
Does the program have sponsorships?
Both Moku Art Studio and MANGO are independent and do not receive private or state assistance. Therefore, none of our programs are sponsored, although we provide acceptance letters to artists seeking support and wishing to present them to the relevant parties.
Can I apply to more than one program?
Yes.
How many artists are accepted to each program?
We accept between 6 and 12 artists in each program.
If you have any questions, you can get in touch with us and CC: mangoresidencia@gmail.com & mokuartstudio@gmail.com with the subject 2026 Residency Program Inquiry